The Future of Music: How Independent Artists Can Take Control

The music industry has gone through a crazy evolution—Edison Tubes, 78s, 45s, LPs, 8-tracks, cassettes, CDs, downloads, and now, streaming. These days, pretty much everyone listens to music on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube. But here’s the problem: streaming just doesn’t pay enough for most musicians to make a living. Artists earn only a tiny fraction of a penny per play, making it nearly impossible to sustain a career.

For the industry to thrive, we need a strong and sustainable middle class of musicians—artists who aren’t megastars but can still make a solid living from their craft. The good news? New tech like Web3, decentralized apps (dApps), and AI are flipping the script. These tools let artists keep more of their earnings, connect directly with fans, and take control of their careers.

The reality is clear: independent artists make up at least 90% of the music on Spotify. That’s a massive piece of the pie! Yet, we’re the most overlooked by streaming algorithms and get the smallest share of the revenue. But here’s the upside—if we start using these new tools and introduce our fans to them, we can shift the power dynamic. Instead of being at the mercy of the industry, we can start leading it.

Decentralization is already shaking up other industries, and music is next. Platforms like BlueSky are challenging centralized social media giants like Twitter (now X) and Instagram. Cryptocurrency is reshaping finance by cutting out banks and government control. In the same way, decentralization in music gives indie artists more power—more control over their revenue, branding, and most importantly, their relationship with fans. The future is in our hands, and it’s time to take the wheel.

Why Streaming Doesn’t Work for Most Musicians

Streaming services seem great because they let people listen to unlimited music. But for artists, the current system has a lot of problems:

1. Low Payouts – Spotify only pays about $0.003 to $0.005 per stream. That means an artist needs millions of plays just to make a living.
2. Too Many Middlemen – Record labels, distributors, and streaming platforms take a big cut of the money before the artist gets paid.
3. No Ownership – Artists don’t have much control over their music once it’s on these platforms.
4. Fighting Algorithms – Musicians have to play by the platform’s rules to get noticed, which can be tough for smaller artists.

Obviously, the current business model is not sustainable for the independent artist and for the industry to thrive it must be able to create and sustain a music industry middle class from which new artists and future superstars can emerge from.  Luckily, new technology is helping musicians break free from this system.

How Web3 Can Help Musicians Make Money

Web3 is creating new ways for artists to make money without relying on big companies. Here’s how:

1. Selling Music as MNFTs

MNFTs (Music Non-Fungible Tokens) let artists sell their music as unique digital collectibles. This means:

• Fans can buy special versions of songs or albums.
• Musicians can offer cool extras like behind-the-scenes content or VIP access.
• Fans can purchase shares in artists songs and invest in an artist’s future success!
• Artists keep making money when their music is resold.

Sites like Opulus.org and Catalog.works let musicians sell music as NFTs and keep more of the profits. As the technology advances more and more players will enter the decentralized market giving indie artists a wide variety of options to help them monetize their recorded music and their fans will have a way to connect with the artists they love in new an inventive ways.

2. Decentralized Streaming = More Money for Artists

Unlike Spotify, decentralized music platforms don’t have big companies taking a cut. By basing the Players on the Ethereum blockchain and storing all the tracks on IPFS (IPFS stands for Interplanetary File System. It’s a decentralized, peer-to-peer (P2P) system for storing and sharing files. IPFS allows users to access content without a centralized server, like a data center or server farm), because there is no central server the storage costs are drastically reduced. This allows for more of the revenue to go directly to the artist, in a more secure, transparent way than ever before.

Some options include:

• Audius – A music streaming service where artists get paid directly with cryptocurrency. Investors in Audius include Katy Perry, The Chainsmokers, Nas, Steve Aoki, and Jason Derulo. Including venture firms like Lightspeed Venture Partners, Binance Labs, Multicoin Capital, Coinbase Ventures, and Pantera Capital 
• Opus – At OPUS, over 90% of the revenue you generate will end up in your account. Your transactions will be managed in a secure, efficient, and transparent manner. Never again will you be confused about any part of your revenue.
• BitSong – BitSong is a cutting-edge blockchain ecosystem redefining the music industry. Designed by developers, music lovers, and artists, it transforms music, merchandise, and fan loyalty into valuable digital assets. With its decentralized network, BitSong provides a seamless marketplace for music streaming and sales, Fan Tokens, and NFTs, empowering creators to monetize their art and connect directly with their audience. At its core is the BTSG token, driving these innovations and building a thriving global music community.

3. Community-Powered Music with DAOs

A DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) is a fan-powered group that helps artists succeed. A DAO, or Decentralized Autonomous Organization, is like a digital club run by its members instead of a boss or company. It works using blockchain technology, which is the same kind of system that powers cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. For an independent musician, a DAO can be a cool way to connect with fans and raise money for projects. Fans who join the DAO can help make decisions, like voting on what songs to release next or where to hold concerts. The musician can also use the DAO to sell special rewards, like exclusive music or backstage passes, and make sure everyone gets paid fairly without needing a record label. It’s like building a music community where everyone has a say!

With a DAO, artists can:

• Raise money for projects while letting fans vote on decisions.
• Reward early supporters with exclusive content.
• Release music without needing a record label.

Artists can create and maintain a DAO, by using platforms like DAOstack, Aragon, or Mirror. They can set up a token system where fans can buy or earn tokens that give them voting power in decisions like song releases, merchandise designs, or tour locations. Regular engagement with the DAO community through exclusive content, live chats, or special events keeps fans invested and helps build a strong, loyal base. Transparency and clear governance rules are key to maintaining trust, ensuring that the DAO operates in a way that benefits both the artist and their supporters.

Using AI to Boost Touring and Marketing

AI (Artificial Intelligence) is also helping artists grow their careers. Here’s how:

1. Smart Music Promotion

AI-powered tools help musicians reach more people. Some ways AI helps:

• Social media marketing – AI can create and manage ads for music releases. Tools like Hootsuite, Sprout Social, and Meta’s Advantage+ help artists automate posts, target the right audience, and optimize ad spending.
• Playlist pitching – AI figures out the best playlists for a song. Platforms like PlaylistSupply and SoundCampaign analyze trends and find curators most likely to accept an artist’s track.
• Chatbots – Bots can talk to fans and keep them engaged. AI chatbot tools like ManyChat and Chatfuel allow artists to set up automated responses, send updates, and even sell merchandise directly through messaging apps.

2. AI Helps Plan Tours

Touring is a big way musicians make money, and AI makes it easier to plan. Services like Bandsintown and ToneDen help by:

• Finding the best cities to perform based on fan data.
• Helping promote shows to the right audience.
• Figuring out the best ticket prices and merchandise ideas.

Conclusion: The Future of Music is in Your Hands

Right now, big music companies control how artists make money, but that’s changing fast. Web3, NFTs, decentralized streaming, and AI are giving musicians new ways to connect with fans and earn money directly.

If you’re an artist, now is the time to explore these tools and take control of your music career. The future of music is decentralized, and the artists who embrace it will lead the way!

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